« 2nd Man Charged Over Bank Raid | Hundreds Remember Lisa » |
£110k For Non-Sectarian St Patrick's Parade
Both A Tangled Web and the Northern Irish Magyar picked up on a story in the Times that Belfast City Council are to fund a St. Patrick's Day parade next year to the tune of £110,000 - on the proviso that no sectarian symbols or attire be allowed. Of course a similar story broke back in July, but I won't tell if you don't.
The Cross of St. Patrick will be the only flag allowed at the parade
Union Flags/Irish Tricolours will be banned, with only the St Patrick's Cross (which Liam Clarke at the Times for seems to have confused with Scotland's St Andrew's Cross) being allowed. It seems only rainbow coloured shamrocks will be permitted instead of green ones. I think the rainbow shamrocks are taking it a bit far though, and as a member of the straight community am personally offended at the... nah I can't be bothered. Seriously though, I'm not sure unionists would be that worried by green shamrocks - more the tricolours, celtic shirts and rebel slogans/songs that tend to permeate the day's festivities in Belfast, led by a mixture of culchie students and uneducated spides.
Follow up:
There is talk about those wearing Rangers/Celtic shirts being provided with green t-shirts to cover them. Sounds reasonable enough, but when you think about it - where does this stop? What about other football tops (certain Irish League sides spring to mind; or what about Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland tops? Ban them deeming them sectarian or permit them (they are green after all) and let people be, nominally at least, identified? Presumably Gaelic tops would also have to go, but if they go, will there be an argument for Rugby tops to be banned? What about Ireland rugby tops?
I admire what the council are trying to do although I think it was a bit harsh of Mr Clarke to call it a some are unhappy that public money is being spent on a big piss-up. An optimist might argue that by making it more of a family day they'll be taking the focus off alcohol consumption - who knows?
I'll watch this one with interest though, and if I have time will more than likely pop along to see what happens.